Colorado

DENVER — A bill that would change the way some same-sex couples in Colorado file their taxes has passed the Senate despite Republican objections that the measure chips away at the state’s constitutional ban on gay marriage.

The tax measure passed 18-16 Wednesday, with all Democrats voting for it and all Republicans present voting against it.

The measure cleared its first hurdle in the Senate on Tuesday, and now heads to the House, where Democrats have a wider majority.

Sen. Pat Steadman (D-Denver), the bill’s sponsor, said the legal change would enable same-sex couples who are legally married in other states, or who move to Colorado, to filing jointly as they would on their federal returns.

He says his bill would apply to legally married same-sex couples only, and not Colorado couples who enter into recently-legalized civil unions.